Everton

What a great game this is for Jack Grealish against his old club.

He has been on fire for Everton since joining them from Manchester City, and it is great to see him playing with a smile on his face. He has been the real creative spark for them this season and if he carries on this form he will be well and truly in the mix to make the England squad for next summer's World Cup.

So much has changed about Everton since David Moyes lost his first game back in charge against Villa, at Goodison Park in January, and not just that they now have a new ground.

You just sense that, with Grealish and Iliman Ndiaye, they have the attacking threat now that they had lacked for a long time. They will be full of belief, against an Aston Villa side who badly need a positive result after their slow start to the new campaign.

The obvious prediction, based on form, is to back Everton to win but I actually don't think Villa will keep on losing.

They are under-performing and also maybe bought a few players in a bit of panic at the end of the transfer window - Jadon Sancho, Harvey Elliott and Victor Lindelof all joined on deadline day - but Emery will get a tune out of his team sooner or later.

Sutton's prediction: 1-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Everton resume Premier League proceedings flying high at fifth in the table against an Aston Villa side who have an excellent record against the Toffees but are still searching for their first goal of the season.

BBC Sport takes a look at some of the key themes before their meeting at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday.

In-form Everton

Everton return to Premier League football having picked up more points than any other club since the start of May (16) and won two games in August – as many as they managed in that month over the past four years.

Opponents Aston Villa, on the other hand, have endured a difficult start.. They sit in the relegation zone with one point from three games and the ignominy of being the only club in the top four English tiers yet to score a goal.

So are Everton worthy of their lofty position early in the season and are Villa playing as badly as it seems? The truth, as is so often the case, is somewhere in the middle.

Jack's back

Everton's excellent start has been built around the return to form of Jack Grealish, who faces his former club.

The England international has already provided two assists in each of his two Premier League starts for the Toffees, having done so on only two occasions in his previous 191 appearances in the competition.

The form of fellow new arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall has helped. He already averages more chances created per 90 of any Everton player since the start of last season, while no English player has created more chances in the Premier League in 2025-26 than Dewbury-Hall's eight. Not a bad way to start off a campaign with a World Cup at the end of it.

But the Blues' biggest boon is an improved efficiency in front of goal. In 2024-25, they ranked 18th for open-play goals (25). In this campaign, they have scored seven in their past three games in all competitions.

The new-found ruthlessness of David Moyes' side means they are outperforming their expected points total more than any team other than Liverpool, according to Opta data based on chances created and conceded.

Conversely, Unai Emery's Villa are suffering from something of a hangover following their European exploits last season, failing to find the net in all three top-flight outings so far.

The lack of goals is not for a want of trying. The Villans have had the same number of shots as Liverpool this season (33) – and the Reds are the Premier League's leading scorers on eight goals.

However, the West Midlands club are being undone by widespread wastefulness despite getting into good positions.

But if ever there was a fixture in which Villa's fortunes may change, it is this one.

They have won four of their past five Premier League visits to Everton (D1), keeping a clean sheet in their past four.

It is Villa's longest ever run of away league clean sheets against one opponent.

Everton have failed to score in their past four home Premier League games against Villa and Moyes' men will be hoping that a change of venue from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium also results in a change of fortunes in this particular contest.

Listen to Everton v Aston Villa live on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds at 15:00 BST on Saturday

You can also listen to 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Life at Everton could not be much better for Jack Grealish. After admitting he fell out of love with football, he has started a new romance with the Toffees.

The feeling is clearly mutual. Everton would be open to signing him permanently when his loan ends and believe his price tag could drop considerably.

Manchester City have a rough value of £50m but this is unlikely to be the real cost come next summer.

By then the midfielder would be almost 31 and have just a year left on his deal.

The feeling around Blues bosses is they can negotiate a low figure and hang on to their newest hero if he continues to impress.

It is felt Grealish only had eyes for Everton early on in the transfer window, even when Moyes initially told him he would have to start on the bench.

As the complexities of the loan move were finalised, talks went long into the night and, when chief executive Angus Kinnear was unable to get home to put his son to bed, Grealish called him to apologise and assure the little boy he would become an Everton player soon.

Read more on Grealish's fine start with the Toffees

Alex Fletcher
BBC Sport journalist

Everton boss David Moyes has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Hill Dickinson Stadium (kick-off 15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• In terms of team news, Moyes confirmed Jarrad Branthwaite "is getting closer" but it will be "a few weeks" until he returns.

• He added: "We've got a concern about Iliman Ndiaye - he's got a knock and we don't know how he'll be for tomorrow. Myko's [Vitaliy Mykolenko] around, hopefully he might be OK."

• Moyes said he was "really pleased" for Jack Grealish after he won the Premier League player of the month award for August, adding: "He's worked incredibly hard and he's looked after himself in the summer to come back with the right mindset to produce for us. It's just the start for Jack and hopefully there's a lot more to come. It's not down to me, it's down to Jack Grealish."

• Moyes said the club will "do everything they can" to get Jordan Pickford to sign a new contract.

• On new signing Merlin Rohl: "I've been pleased with what I've seen, I have to say. He is another young boy coming in from a different league, but he'll be able to handle it. I've no doubt about that."

• On Saturday's opponents, who have had a slow start to the season and are without a league win or goal: "I've got great respect for Aston Villa and great respect for the manager and what they've done in the past few seasons. Regarding their league position, they've done a fantastic job. It's a huge game for us."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Listen to full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live from 15:00 on Saturday

You can also listen to 5 Live Premier League commentaries on most smart speakers. Just say "ask BBC Sounds to play Everton v Aston Villa" or "ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton game".

Find out more about how to listen to Premier League football on BBC Sounds

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Everton's Jack Grealish has won August's Premier League player of the month award.

The 30-year-old England forward joined the Toffees on loan from Manchester City in the summer and has registered four assists in three appearances so far.

He had struggled for fitness and game time over the past two seasons at City but has made an immediate impact on Merseyside.

David Moyes' side are fifth in the Premier League after following up an opening defeat at Leeds - where Grealish made his debut as a late substitute - with back-to-back wins over Wolves and Brighton.

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

In January David Moyes was appointed Everton manager for the second time with the club one point above the relegation zone.

No side have picked up more points since the start of May, and they sit fifth in the Premier League.

Here's how they made their revival:

• After the departure of nine senior players Everton spent a record £97m (based on initial fees), their highest-ever Premier League outlay, to sign nine new players this summer.

• The takeover by the Friedkin Group has been transformational, with Everton's crippling debts turned into equity, repaid or refinanced on more favourable terms.

• Future income will also be boosted by greater revenues at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, which has a capacity of 52,769 - an increase of more than 13,000 on Goodison Park - and far greater scope to provide profitable corporate hospitality.

• Everton have realigned their transfer strategy to best suit the needs of the club, underpinned by marquee loan signing Jack Grealish. The England winger has provided two assists in each of his two Premier League starts for Everton, having done so only twice in his previous 191 league appearances.

• Additionally, fellow new arrival Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall (£24m) averages more chances created per game than any Everton player since the start of last season, while young centre-forward Thierno Barry, a £27m arrival from Villarreal, has impressed with his hold-up play.

• Tyler Dibling (£35m - the fee could rise to £40m) - Everton's biggest summer signing - is yet to feature in the league but adds another dynamic option to an attack that ranked 18th in the top flight for goals from open play last season (25).

• Opta data suggests only Liverpool are outperforming their expected points this season more than Everton, based on the quality of chances created and conceded.

Read full article here

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Everton's right-back position has been the subject of several questions sent in via our 'Ask about Everton' form.

We put your questions about that position in the squad to BBC Radio Merseyside reporter Giulia Bould.

Seamus Coleman turns 37 next month and is in his 17th season at Everton. He was signed by David Moyes during his first spell at the club and remains the manager's most trusted right-back, despite struggling to stay fit.

Replacing the Republic of Ireland international has seemingly proved impossible task. Eight managers between Moyes' two stints have failed to find an ideal candidate.

Nathan Patterson was brought in from Rangers by Rafael Benitez just 12 days before he was sacked in January 2022. At the time, he was touted as a natural successor but has failed to impress and came close to leaving this summer.

When Coleman has been sidelined, it has been a case of square pegs and round holes.

Ben Godfrey was moved from centre-back to plug the gap before his exit in 2024. Sean Dyche brought in Ashley Young but, at the age of 38, he was never a long-term solution.

The other option was midfielder James Garner. In September 2024, then-director of football Kevin Thelwell told me that with budgets tight, and Garner having won the Euros with England under-21s as a right-back, he was the backup for the foreseeable.

Now, Moyes favours Jake O'Brien who admits, while he is happy to cover, he still sees himself as a centre-back. The Toffees searched again this summer for a right-back but on deadline day, only German midfielder Merlin Rohl arrived.

For now then, Seamus Coleman - when fit - remains the manager's first choice in the position and it makes his £60,000 price tag in 2009 seem an even bigger bargain.

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Jordan Pickford continues to underline his importance for England, keeping a seventh consecutive clean sheet in the victory over Serbia.

That run equals his own record for an England goalkeeper in consecutive appearances - a mark he shares with World Cup winner Gordon Banks.

The seven clean sheets for Pickford have come up against Serbia, Andorra (twice), Latvia, Albania, Ireland and Greece. The Ireland and Greece games were under the stewardship of Lee Carsley, interim manager before Thomas Tuchel took over.

The Everton goalkeeper also kept a clean sheet for the Blues in their 2-0 win against Brighton.

Mike Richards
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

Early season international breaks can be welcomed by some clubs looking to reset after a poor start or - in Everton's case - act as a potential momentum killer after promising signs in the opening three league matches.

Such has been the exciting start to the season, Evertonians cannot wait for Saturday to roll round once again.

There is an air of enthusiasm, as there has been since the return to the club of David Moyes.

In our two league wins to date this season, Everton have not only entertained for periods, they have now assembled an attacking force that strikes fear into the heart of opponents.

Jack Grealish has rightly been singled out for praise. So often the catalyst in attacking areas, he has already achieved cult hero status among the fanbase.

His arrival has not only been successful for him, but for those around him - in particular, Iliman Ndiaye.

So often the talisman of the side last season, the Senegal forward was often targeted by the opposition in an attempt to nullify Everton in the final third.

With the attention seemingly centred elsewhere, Ndiaye has found more space and time to work his magic.

Now operating off the right-hand side, it has been encouraging to see him pick up where he left off last season. With two goals in the first three league matches, I would be surprised if he does not top the club scoring charts once more.

After a successful summer transfer window and the move to our fantastic new home, things apparently appear to be looking up for our club.

The simple fact that Evertonians cannot wait for the turnstiles to click open on Saturday is a clear indicator we are back to enjoying our football at last.

Find more from Mike Richards at Unholy Trinity, external

Everton are considering a move for 32-year-old free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but Rangers and Leeds United are also interested in the former England international, who left Turkish club Besiktas at the end of August. (The Boot Room), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Tuesday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

Giulia Bould
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

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Throughout a rollercoaster past few years at Everton, Jordan Pickford has been a constant.

Most fans believe that without their keeper, they would be playing Championship football – or worse. When the club was at its lowest in recent years, it was the 31-year-old's performances that stopped the situation getting worse.

One such game was against Leicester in May 2023 when both clubs were fighting relegation. Without James Maddison's penalty being saved at the King Power Stadium, Everton would likely have gone down that season instead of their opponents.

It was a sliding doors' moment and Pickford was at the centre of it.

There's often a debate among the Toffees about who is the best keeper in the club's history - Neville Southall or Jordan Pickford? Southall is the Blues' record appearance holder with 578, plus he won two league titles, two FA Cups and a European Cup Winners trophy during his time at Goodison.

While Pickford does not have the trophy haul so far, he has succeeded for Everton in a much tougher era on the pitch and during a time while the club was run so poorly, it saw two PSR breaches, two sets of points deductions and eight managers.

As a result, the news those at the top want him to see his career out at Hill Dickinson Stadium is being met with celebration.

A rebuild is under way in other positions but to find another keeper on the same level would cost a fortune. And it is not just his talent that is worth something.

He understands what it takes to be loved by the Everton faithful and that is priceless.

Though he grew up in the North East, Jordan Pickford is treated by the blue half of Merseyside as one of their own. As his song in the stands starts; "He's a mackem, he's a blue, he's a toffee through and through."

Image source, Getty Images

We asked whether you have fallen in love with Jack Grealish after Toffees fan Mike Richards said earlier on this page that common advice is often "never fall in love with a loan player".

Here are some of your comments:

Steve: Why not fall in love with a loan player that lights up the team and gets the crowd loving the game again? Whether he stays after the loan period or not, I'll always love Jack for knowing what it takes to win the hearts and minds of the Everton crowd. Players like that are few and far between. Guardiola's loss is our gain.

David: Let's not forget the boost this has given Grealish. He has his mojo back and I believe that means a lot to him. I feel he will drive better performances from other players and it would not be a surprise if he is our player of the season.

Andy: I don't think the question is whether we've fallen in love with him. It's now - are we willing to pay what it takes to keep him? The dream would be that he falls in love too and takes a pay cut to make the move. City's style of football doesn't deserve a player of his style and skill.

Everton fan Mike Richards discusses the transfer window on BBC Radio Merseyside: "It's been an exciting window for us. There's been money spent. There's been exciting players coming in and we look like a totally different football side.

"It's all about future-proofing, we've got the spine of a decent squad, with experience. But you've got to look towards the future.

"From a business perspective, you can argue big money's being spent on Tyler Dibling and players like that, but if they go on and have two or three good years at the club, then the price doubles anyway.

"That's what we need to say and do - be better. I still think there's room for improvements, but the new recruitment team came in fairly late at the back end of the window, so they haven't really put their stamp on things.

"I think that the signings are a good mix of youth and experience, and hopefully that leads to us being that bit better in the market in terms of making decent profit going forward and then reinvesting."

On new signing Jack Grealish: "Everyone always says don't fall in love with a loan player. I think it's far too late for that. We are all head over heels in love with him. He's some talent. He's some player. And hopefully, if this continues there will be cause to get him on a permanent deal in the summer.

"It puts more eyes on our football club because of the following that he's got. And we're going through this transitional period, with our new stadium, the manager being back for about six months or so and the fact we've spent quite a bit of money in the transfer market. This is the time when we really want to be getting eyes on our football club. And that's exactly what he does."

Listen to the full interview here

Have you fallen for Grealish? Tell us why here

Sami Mokbel
Senior football correspondent

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BBC Sport senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel has been answering your questions on Thomas Tuchel's England squad.

Peter asked: I can't figure out why Tuchel has picked Marcus Rashford over Jack Grealish. How can this be justified on the basis of recent form?

Sami answered: Tuchel has clearly taken a shining to Rashford, hasn't he? Indeed, one of his very first decisions as England boss was to recall Rashford to the senior squad following a time in the international wilderness. Tuchel believes in the threat Rashford poses out wide.

In terms of Grealish, I don't think it will be too long until he gets a recall, if he continues performing at the level he has started the new season.

An issue might be that Tuchel, as I understand it, views Grealish as a central attacker of which the German has options - Cole Palmer and Jude Bellingham among others - but he won't be able to ignore Grealish if his early form continues.

Image source, Getty Images

The dust has just about settled on a busy transfer window for Everton.

In total, the Toffees brought in nine players for a total of about £110.9m based on reported initial fees.

Those incomings were:

• Tyler Dibling - Southampton

• Thierno Barry - Villarreal

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall - Chelsea

• Charly Alcaraz - Flamengo

• Adam Aznou - Bayern Munich

• Mark Travers - Bournemouth

• Tom King - Wolves

• Jack Grealish - Manchester City (loan)

• Merlin Rohl - Freiburg (loan - obligation to buy)

*All permanent unless otherwise stated

Heading the other way, Everton offloaded a number of players including Youssef Chermiti, Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Abdoulaye Doucoure and Ashley Young.

Of all the summer incomings at Hill Dickinson stadium, who do you think will have the biggest impact?

Rank them here

Ian Kennedy
BBC Radio Merseyside reporter

Image source, Getty Images

With the arrival of midfielder Merlin Rohl on transfer deadline day, David Moyes has added nine new names to his squad, and while there was talk of a need for reinforcements, the Blues boss has already seen the impact his new faces can make.

It was clearly in evidence on Saturday at Wolves, when Jack Grealish and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall were again excellent, playing a huge part in a deserved away win. Crucially, Everton have now won both at their new stadium and away from home, a great response from that opening night defeat at Elland Road.

We will await to see if Rohl is involved straight away but he's another option in midfield, especially with highly rated Harrison Armstrong now continuing his development on loan at Preston for the rest of the season.

The international break has probably come too early now that Everton have found some momentum and confidence, but there is a feel-good factor at the moment. If they can beat Aston Villa in their next game, it will represent a really good start to the season.

Briony Bragg
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

I recently argued a right-winger, a right-back, a defensive midfielder, and possibly even a striker were the bare minimum for Everton to start looking up the table.

Well, that's two out of four.

Alongside another seven signings, it has been a decent return for a club with the biggest rebuild required in the Premier League. If at the start of the summer, I had been offered the names we have signed (just look at that attacking line-up!), I would have been absolutely delighted.

This is a different Everton, with a new home, and a brighter future. Last season, it took until mid-October to amass the points we have now at the end of August.

Yet it is disappointing we have not added a right-back. That is a hole in the squad and it is a desperately sorry situation that Nathan Patterson has not been able to get out on loan.

Realistically, it would have been incredibly difficult to solve every position in this window, but that position really has been top of the list for quite some time. It seems the club want the right player now, not just who is available.

They also are not prepared to overpay for the sake of it, notably turning down deals for players with overinflated wages.

By the end, I think we have navigated a difficult window quite well. After all, it really is nice to not be worrying about PSR for a change and to have a bench that contains some genuine options.

Finally, a special mention for Jarrad Branthwaite's new contract, signed in early July. When one of your biggest prized assets signs a long term deal, what is there not to be pleased about?

Rating: 7/10